Box Score

WAIPAHU, HI -- Hawai`i opened its Western Athletic Conference season with a resounding 4-0 win over Idaho Friday night at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. UH snapped a two-match losing streak with the win and moved to 4-6-2 overall and 1-0 in the WAC.

The Rainbow Wahine struggled through a tough non-conference slate but opened WAC action with new energy, including new home uniforms--green numbers on white jerseys and green shorts with white trim. After a sluggish start, UH went into high gear with two goals in each half as Hawaii gave Idaho a rude welcome in their first meeting ever as conference opponents. Hawaii out-shot Idaho, 19-3, and handed the Vandals (2-10) their eighth straight loss.

Natasha Kai scored two of Hawai`i's four goals and assisted on another. Also scoring for UH were junior midfielder Kelly McCloskey and freshman Taryn Fukuroku, who scored her first collegiate goal. Freshman Kori Lu and senior Mahie Atay combined for the shutout, UH's third of the season.

Kai scored both of her goals in the first half, both off of through balls, one from Jessica Domingo in the 29th minute and another from Adria Campbell in 35th minute. Kai then set up McCloskey for her first goal of the year, seven minutes in to the second half. Kai headed the ball to McCloskey, who ripped a shot to the far post from the left wing of the box. Fukuroku capped the UH scoring in the 69th minute when she finished off a through ball from Campbell, who posted her second assist of the match and her team-high sixth of the season.

UH has now won eight straight conference home matches dating back to 2003 and 14 of its last 15 dating back to 2001.

Hawaii next its second straight WAC home match when they take on Boise State Sunday at 5 p.m.

Match Statistics